The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump announced this Monday the official revocation of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans residing in the country. This measure, which eliminates a key protection against deportations, will directly affect thousands of migrants who arrived in the U.S. in recent years.
Venezuelan groups demand reconsideration of the decision
U.S. media had already reported over the weekend that the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, decided to eliminate this immigration protection. The order, published on the Government website and effective this Monday, establishes that Venezuelans who received TPS in 2023 will lose their protection as of April 5, the expiration date of the benefit.
Leaders of Venezuelan exile groups in southern Florida expressed their concern over the measure and urged the Trump administration to reconsider the decision. These groups emphasized that TPS has been a vital resource for more than 600,000 Venezuelans to work and reside legally in the United States.
Impact on the venezuelan community and reactions
The revocation of TPS comes after the Trump administration canceled an extension of the benefit until October 2026, which had been approved at the end of former President Joe Biden‘s term. The Temporary Protected Status is a form of assistance granted to citizens of countries affected by natural disasters or armed conflicts, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. until the Government deems it safe for them to return.
Venezuelan organizations in Miami held a press conference this Monday to reject the measure. Representatives of the Venezuelan exile argued that the revocation of TPS exposes thousands of people to an imminent risk of deportation. The news comes at a time when Venezuela has agreed to handle the transportation and reception of its citizens deported from the U.S.
Last week, Trump‘s special envoy, Ric Grenell, traveled to Caracas and met with Nicolás Maduro, whom the United States does not recognize as the legitimate president. The purpose of the visit was to negotiate the release of six American prisoners and coordinate deportation flights.
During his first term, Trump attempted to eliminate similar immigration protections for citizens of Haiti, El Salvador, and Sudan, but federal courts blocked some of those actions. Now, the revocation of TPS for Venezuelans marks a new chapter in his administration’s immigration policy, generating uncertainty and concern within the Venezuelan community in the U.S.
